Benjamin Dome
(British, b. 1979)
Benjamin Dome began his photographic career in London capturing real life portraits of people and their stories. He has worked for top international publications, newspapers and agencies including Getty Images, the Times and NBC, and at the age of 21 was one of the youngest war photographers covering the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
In 2004 he was given the opportunity to travel to Ethiopia by Dr. David Turton, one of the world's leading anthropologists and then Senior Research Fellow for African Studies at the University of Oxford. This introduction to the Mursi tribe led to deep ties with multiple generations of its members, affording him unprecedented access to this fascinating and largely misunderstood society.
In 2005 Dome won top prizes in the Lauderdale House photographic competition and was given a solo exhibition there. His show “Culture and Conflict” featured his work with the Mursi and the Middle East conflict, cementing his reputation as a photographer of profound insight.
In his latest project, A Tribe at the Crossroads: 20 years in Ethiopia, Dome delves into the struggles faced by the Mursi tribe as they navigate the challenges of modernity while striving to preserve their traditional ways of life. The months he has spent living among the Mursi ensures that Dome’s lens portrays them not as exotic subjects but as individuals with dignity and humanity.
Dome's intimate and deeply human photographs continue to illuminate the universal values and challenges faced by people around the world, celebrating the resilience and beauty of the human spirit.
For more information on Dr. David Turton’s work with the Mursi Tribe:
Tribe at the crossroads
GEYDAGEDAGE DORIWA, MURSI WOMAN WITH LIP-PLATE AND WARTHOG TUSKS - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Acrylic mount (19¾" x 28½")
NGA’RUGO, MURSI WOM-AN - SOUTH OMO, ETHIO-PIA
Photograph. Acrylic mount: 18½" x 28"
CHUM’BAI, A MURSI WOMAN, WITH HER LIP PLATE AND PANGA KNIFE - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Acrylic mount: 18½" x 28"
MURSI WOMAN WEARING HORNS - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Acrylic mount: 18½" x 28"
MOTHER AND CHILD: BIO’BALA TOKO IN A MUR-SI VILLAGE, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Acrylic mount: 18½" x 28"
BEN’S BOYS, ASHENAFE AND ASNAKÉ - JINKA VILLAGE, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Print size: 18½" x 28"
Portraits
DOR’SHABY - MURSI LADY IN MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
ARIGOLONYE GOMNAYE: ELDER MURSI LADY IN MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
NAYELEI KASARE, A NYANGATOM WOMAN - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
NAYELEI KASARE, A NYANGATOM WOMAN IN FRONT OF HER HUT - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
GO’ITI MAIDI: HAMAR WOMAN AND HER CHICKENS - DIMEKA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
GO’ITI MAIDI, A HAMAR WOMAN - DIMEKA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
KA’RIMBE SABÉ, A HAMAR MAN - DIMEKA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
NGA’BIO DISPLAYING WARTHOG TUSKS AND HER LIP PLATE - MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 9.7"
The Present
CARD GAME - JINKA VILLAGE, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
FAMILY IN COLOUR - SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
BOY WITH GRAIN - JINKA VILLAGE, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
MAN IN THE MARKET - MERCATO, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
MATTRESSES - MERCATO, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 15" x 22.6"
GATHERING CABBAGE LEAVES - PIAZZA, ADDIS AB-ABA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
ROOSTER IN A POT - JINKA VILLAGE, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 15" x 22.6"
1000 WORDS - KAZANCHIS, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.7" x 22"
Village Life
MALE MURSI ELDER - MAKO VILLAGE, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
MURSI BOY, ULI BETHSENI - KONBA, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
MURSI BOY WITH BEADED NECKLACE - KONBA, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
MURSI BOY WARRIOR - MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
NGA’LUCY TULAKEWO, A YOUNG MURSI WOMAN, IN HER HUT - MAGANTO VILLAGE, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 14.7" x 20.6"
BELLY BUTTON (SCARIFICATION), ULI TULA, A YOUNG MURSI WARRIOR - MAKO, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
FLOATING MURSI BOY, ULI BETHSENI - KONBA, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
NGA’LUCY AND HER FRIEND NGA’GOUTE JARAMA IN FRONT OF LUCY’S HUT - MAGANTO VILLAGE, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
ULIKEWO LOMUGEDAGEY DRINKING IN THE BUSHLANDS - MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"
MURSI WARRIOR IN A WHISPER OF LIGHT - MAGANTO VILLAGE, MURSI LAND, SOUTH OMO, ETHIOPIA
Photograph.
Image size: 17.2" x 22"